Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Yesterday

I hope very much that word-of-mouth has gotten the news out enough already so this at least won't come as a shock to those closest and dearest to us. Yesterday, at about 5pm we lost our Evie after she was removed from ECMO. We discussed the decision to take her off of the machine with her surgeons, and it was their assessment that her heart had recovered as much as it could on ECMO, and she needed to show us if she could make it without. We consented to removing her from the machine, and it was very quickly apparent that her heart couldn't keep up. We were told she did not have much time left, and we went to her bedside and I was able to hold her until she died. She was in no pain, as she was fully sedated.

This is the hardest time of our lives, and we appreciate all the support we have been receiving. We will write more after a while, and include details about her memorial service, which we've yet to plan.

66 comments:

Lefdawg
said...

Dear Matt and Nicole,Words are not even able to describe the deepest sypathy I have for you at this time. Please know that I am thinking of you both and will continue to pray for to have strength at this time of need. May our Lord wrap you in His loving arms at this time and comfort you both.May Almighty God Bless You!Sarah C.~

I am so sorry to hear of Evie's passing but may you take assurance in knowing that she will forever know how much she is loved. I can not imagine the grief the two of you are feeling but I pray that God gives you strength and courage to continue stepping forward in the days to come.

I have no words because I somewhat understand the pai as I lost my premie grandaughter 4 years ago. I pray for Gods arms to be around you. I cry for you. I am so sorry. Lord help this family. Be with them every moment. Help them through this darkest of times. God bless and keep you both.

I dont know you kids, but i play solitaire with Nicole's mom in the London room, and you and Evie have been in my thoughts and prayers everyday and will continue to be. There are no words to say to ease your pain, but just know that so many people, even those you dont know, are thinking of you, and wishing you peace right now.

Matt and Nicole I don't even know how to respond to the new of your loss. Words are never enough when someone is experiencing this kind of pain. I am so glad that you got to hold Evie in your arms one last time and that she was close to her mommy's heart. I grieve with you and pray for rest and peace for both of you. My very deepest sympathy. love in Christ, Debi Bender

Dear Matt and NicoleMy deepest sympathy goes out to you both! Words cannot ever v=be enough to relieve the pain you are feeling at this time. May the Lord give you comfort and peace. My heart hurts for you and I will continue to pray for you both.

Matt and Nicole,As you know, you are certainly not alone in your sorrow and I pray this gives you comfort. The Lord has brought many people to you for this reason. We are mourning with you.With tears and love, Paula

MATT AND NICOLE,I AM SORRY TO HEAR EVIE HAS PASSED AWAY, SHE WAS SO STRONG HOLDING ON AND FIGHTING AND SHE KNEW YOU LOVED HER SO MUCH. WORDS CANNOT HEAL HOW YOU FEEL RIGHT NOW. GOD IS WITH HER AS HE HAS BEEN WITH HER THROUGH HER WHOLE JOURNEY AND SHE IS AT PEACE, I AM GLAD YOU GOT TO HOLD HER AND SAY YOUR GOODBYESGOD BLESS YOUSARAH LOCKHART

Dear Matt & NicoleThere are no words to say that can ease the pain except that God holds you tightly and absolutely will not let you go. You are embraced in prayer and will continue to be in the days to come. Bless you both.

Nicole,Matt and family,All our hearts are breaking with yours, i remember the day your mom told us you were expecting, we heard from her about how you were doing and i watched your blogs daily i feel that i know you so well as your mom speaks highly of you both. May god bless and keep you in his love. And rest assured that Evie is safe in his arms.....

Matt and Nicole, You have my deepest sympathy in your time of grief. I will continue to pray for you. I Peter 5:7 tells us to "cast our cares on Him for He cares for us." I know the Lord will you give a peace that passes all understanding. You are in my prayers.

Dear God in Heaven... I am so so sorry. I'm a youth pastor in Alabama... for some reason, through other blogs, I found this one today... my heart is breaking for you. May God's comfort and peace embrace you both now and in the days to come. I am so sorry.

My heart is with you all! ( I have two children in heaven, I know what it is like to be missing your child here on this earth). I have kept you all in prayers throughout Evies struggles. Please email me anytime if you need some one to talk to who has been through this. Jesus is rocking baby Evie in his arms and wiping all her tears away. until you meet with them all in heaven. God be with you all and comfort you! Love, Judith

Matt and Nicole- our hearts ache for you! God bless you and keep you and give you His peace. You both have been so courageous and Evie Marie was too!We will continue to keep your family in our prayers.

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anythings else in all creation, will be able to separate Evie, Matt, and Nicole from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Weeping may last for the night, and it may be a very, very long night, but joy, God's joy, WILL come in the morning.

I love you both beyond words. The pain that you feel I am sure is inconceivable. I have never had a child, so the feeling of losing something so precious is not even an emotion I am able to relate to. You have been a constant in my prayer, and will continue to be. I wish that I was able to be there to hug you both. Know that there are angels around you in every form, from those sent from heaven to that wonderful person who will meet your needs. We love you. With all my heart.Paulina Hazen

Matt, Nicole, and familyMy heart goes out to you and your family in your deepest hour of sorrow and grief. None of us may never know the pain you've endured. Find comfort in knowing that Evie was such a beautiful girl and that she is now with the lord. Nothing anyone can do can help to erase your sadness but may our prayers help to relieve some.My deepest prayers go out to you both.

Matt and Nicole,I just want you to know, You and Evie have forever impacted my life. We have never met, but I will never forget you all. My prayers are with you, may God give you some peace through these dark struggles. I will never forget sweet Evie and her parents that loved her so much. You have taught me so much about love, life, and struggle.

Matt & Nicole,I'm so very, very sorry to hear of Evie's passing. Thank God we know she passed into the arms of Jesus who loves her and you beyond our human understanding. I'm sure right now you don't feel very loved, only pain and grief. We will pray that God enfolds you in his love and that you find comfort, peace and strength in the love of others. Love,Cathie & Jerry Gates

Dear Matt and Nicole, I got the very sad news yesterday from aunt Judy and Micheal. No words can express to you how I feel about your tremendous loss. All I could think, is she is being well taken care of by the rest of our family in heaven. Now Angela has a baby to look out for. Ilove you both Aunt Carol

Our hearts ache and mourn with you at the loss of your beautiful baby girl. We know she has returned to the loving arms of her Maker. May the Lord surround you with His love and peace. We pray He gives you strength in these difficult days to come. You remain in our prayers!

DEAR MATT, NICOLE AND GAYLE, I AM VERY SORRY FOR YOUR LOSE. I KNOW SHE MENT ALOT TO YOU ALL AND I WAS HOPING SHE WOULD HAVE HER FIRST CHRISTMAS WITH YOU ALL. I KNOW IT WAS HARD TO MAKE THE CHOICE. BUT AT LEAST SHE IS IN GOD'S HANDS NOW. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING PLEASE E-MAIL ME AT PAULAGROPPER@HOTMAIL.COM OR MY HOME ADDRESS IS PAULA GROPPER 1605 LINCOLN DR EAST AMBLER PA 19002. DON'T BE AFRAID TO WRITE TO ME. MY GOD BLESS THE FAMILY.

Little Evie was prayed for by thousands of people. God answered our prayers, unfortunately, not the way we wanted Him too. But God knows what is best. We will all continue to pray for you and your family to receive the strength needed to see it through your loss. Evie was loved by many people even though we did not know her or even know you. She touched many lives and I know changed many peoples lives.

You don't know me, but I was made aware of your situation through my friend Jessica Andrews. I've been praying for you for a few weeks now, and it hurts my heart to hear that you lost your precious baby girl. I will pray for you both as you go through this time and will rejoice with you as we know your baby girl is now in the arms of Jesus.